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Arc of Infinity (TV story): Difference between revisions
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* [[Colin Baker]] was cast as Maxil after [[assistant floor manager]] [[Lynn Richards]] recalled seeing Baker in ''[[w:c:blakes7:City at the Edge of the World (episode)|City at the Edge of the World]]'', a 1980 episode of ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. ([[TCH 36]]) | * [[Colin Baker]] was cast as Maxil after [[assistant floor manager]] [[Lynn Richards]] recalled seeing Baker in ''[[w:c:blakes7:City at the Edge of the World (episode)|City at the Edge of the World]]'', a 1980 episode of ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''. ([[TCH 36]]) | ||
* [[Maya Woolfe]] (Hostel Receptionist) is credited as "First Receptionist" in the combined ''[[Radio Times]]'' cast for parts three/four. | * [[Maya Woolfe]] (Hostel Receptionist) is credited as "First Receptionist" in the combined ''[[Radio Times]]'' cast for parts three/four. | ||
* Crowd control in Amsterdam proved to be a major issue throughout the shoot, with Dutch viewers recognising Peter Davison from ''[[All Creatures Great and Small]]''. [[John Nathan-Turner]] tried to assist [[Ron Jones]] in dealing with the onlookers, and indeed is visible in the transmitted version of ''Arc of Infinity'', gesturing away a group of onlookers in the background of the part four scene of the Doctor and Nyssa at the telephone box. At one point, Nathan-Turner's attempts at crowd control became dangerous when an elderly woman assumed he was a thief and attacked him. | * Crowd control in Amsterdam proved to be a major issue throughout the shoot, with Dutch viewers recognising [[Peter Davison]] from ''[[All Creatures Great and Small]]''. [[John Nathan-Turner]] tried to assist [[Ron Jones]] in dealing with the onlookers, and indeed is visible in the transmitted version of ''Arc of Infinity'', gesturing away a group of onlookers in the background of the part four scene of the Doctor and Nyssa at the telephone box. At one point, Nathan-Turner's attempts at crowd control became dangerous when an elderly woman assumed he was a thief and attacked him. | ||
* The Dutch street organ that transfixes Omega for a moment during part four is playing the song "[[Tulips from Amsterdam]]". The same music is heard during the establishing shot of Amsterdam at the start of part one. | * The Dutch street organ that transfixes Omega for a moment during part four is playing the song "[[Tulips from Amsterdam]]". The same music is heard during the establishing shot of Amsterdam at the start of part one. | ||
* [[Ian Collier]] takes on the role of Omega, originally played by [[Stephen Thorne]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]''. To keep the return of Omega a surprise, Collier was billed in the end credits as "The Renegade" for parts one and two, with the billing becoming "Omega" for parts three and four. | * [[Ian Collier]] takes on the role of Omega, originally played by [[Stephen Thorne]] in [[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]''. To keep the return of Omega a surprise, Collier was billed in the end credits as "The Renegade" for parts one and two, with the billing becoming "Omega" for parts three and four. | ||
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* [[Colin Baker]] was a fan of the show and delighted to play a guest role, but was also disappointed that this seemingly meant that he could never play the Doctor. | * [[Colin Baker]] was a fan of the show and delighted to play a guest role, but was also disappointed that this seemingly meant that he could never play the Doctor. | ||
* When [[Colin Baker]] was offered the role of Maxil, he was doing a play in [[Brighton]]. | * When [[Colin Baker]] was offered the role of Maxil, he was doing a play in [[Brighton]]. | ||
* Colin Baker jokes that while filming the scene where Commander Maxil shoots the Doctor, he was gunning for Peter Davison's part. Davison claimed that Baker enjoyed the scene a bit too much. | * [[Colin Baker]] jokes that while filming the scene where Commander Maxil shoots the Doctor, he was gunning for [[Peter Davison]]'s part. Davison claimed that Baker enjoyed the scene a bit too much. | ||
* [[Sarah Sutton]] ripped her trousers during the crypt scene. | * [[Sarah Sutton]] ripped her trousers during the crypt scene. | ||
* Ian Collier described Omega's costume as one of the most uncomfortable experiences of his life. | * [[Ian Collier]] described Omega's costume as one of the most uncomfortable experiences of his life. | ||
* Ian Collier got burned filming the explosives scenes. They used metal plates to cover the charges. | * [[Ian Collier]] got burned filming the explosives scenes. They used metal plates to cover the charges. | ||
* [[Peter Davison]] claimed that he was planning to use a dildo he purchased in Amsterdam as a weapon to kill Omega, but because they were running behind schedule, he didn't get a chance. | * [[Peter Davison]] claimed that he was planning to use a dildo he purchased in Amsterdam as a weapon to kill Omega, but because they were running behind schedule, he didn't get a chance. | ||
* The cast found the Ergon costume laughable. [[Eric Saward]] claimed it was never described in the script and thought it was "lunatic" when he saw it. [[Johnny Byrne]] claimed it was a legitimate, "less successful attempt" at biosynthesis. | * The cast found the Ergon costume laughable. [[Eric Saward]] claimed it was never described in the script and thought it was "lunatic" when he saw it. [[Johnny Byrne]] claimed it was a legitimate, "less successful attempt" at biosynthesis. | ||
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* The Ergon was envisaged as an assemblage of bones, inspired by the eponymous creature in ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''. Sadly, this effect, particuarly the inclusion of a pterodactyl skull (which [[Malcolm Harvey]] wore as a hat), did not come off as intended. With no time available to modify or replace it, the costume was judged a failure. | * The Ergon was envisaged as an assemblage of bones, inspired by the eponymous creature in ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''. Sadly, this effect, particuarly the inclusion of a pterodactyl skull (which [[Malcolm Harvey]] wore as a hat), did not come off as intended. With no time available to modify or replace it, the costume was judged a failure. | ||
* Although [[Richard Gregory]] of [[Imagineering]] was so happy with the Omega design that he wove his initials into the design on the chestplate, this costume proved problematic. Imagineering had incorporated servos to move the flaps covering Omega's mouth, but these proved to be so loud that they could not be used. | * Although [[Richard Gregory]] of [[Imagineering]] was so happy with the Omega design that he wove his initials into the design on the chestplate, this costume proved problematic. Imagineering had incorporated servos to move the flaps covering Omega's mouth, but these proved to be so loud that they could not be used. | ||
* The Lord President was originally unnamed in the script. His role was given to Borusa. | |||
* Part of the decision to film in Amsterdam was that the BBC had recently shot ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_(1981_TV_series) Triangle]'' there. | |||
* [[John Nathan-Turner]] encouraged costume designer [[Dee Robson]] to deviate from Omega's physical appearance in ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]],'' as he thought that it would further help preserve the surprise of the villain's identity, and could be justified by Omega's nigh-total control over mass and form in his anti-matter domain. | |||
=== Influences === | === Influences === | ||
* ''[[Frankenstein]]'' - ''The scene of Omega at the Punch and Judy show and interacting with a child was inspired | * ''[[Frankenstein]]'' - ''The scene of Omega at the Punch and Judy show and interacting with a child was inspired by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein_(1931_film) the 1931 film], as well as [[The Bride of Frankenstein]].'' | ||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === | ||
